Northport, Alabama

I suspect more than a few people will have a mixed reaction to this photograph, taken last night somewhere around 2 a.m. Nicholas says it’s “too depressive.” I think it only disturbs him because he knows me so well. If this were a portrait of a stranger, he would probably feel differently.

I have spent my entire life pleasing other people, carefully parlaying my words and images to create whatever chimera was desired. But while there are times that I enjoy creating the “play-pretty” of the day, I didn’t become a journalist because I wanted to make pleasant pictures — I chose this path because there were stories I wanted to tell, dark shadows I have seen that I wanted to chase from the corners.

Life isn’t always pretty, and happiness is fleeting at best. If a potential client only wants to hire a “happy” photographer, then so be it. I’m sure there is one in the phone book.

Music: Disintegration by The Cure (lyrics)